Sad News and New Beginnings

I have sad news to impart. Blackie and Cheep-Cheep are no longer with us. My dogs decided that they wanted them and when they go at it well.. They tore up the whole cage. We are all very sad.  They were more than just chickens, they were pets. My son had baseball game that afternoon, so we didn't tell them until later that afternoon. There were a few tears, but they understood. I am still saddened by it, but again there is nothing we can do about it now.

RIP Blackie and Cheep-Cheep

On another note.. I guess I'll never understood chickens. Apparently, when mothers feel they have too many chicks or one is not up to par with the rest, she will either kill it or just kick it out of the group. I guess you can guess where this is going.. Chicken number 3 has moved into my front room. Yes, Peep-Peep is now well loved by the boys. It was left by the mother in the middle of the pen and I'm not really sure who it belonged to in the first place. But Peep Peep is now doing well. Guess it was a good thing I didn't take down the front room chicken pen. lol.

All other chickens in the outside pens are doing good also. But this 104-108 degree temps are keeping us busy keeping enough water out there for them. All the other chickens that were in the group with Blackie and  Cheep Cheep are growing fast and will soon be able to move in with the larger chickens making room for the new babies. And the polish chicks have almost a full mow-hawk and doing very well. I am going to have to get a picture of them to share. All and All everything on the animal front is smoothing out.

Adventures in Homesteading

Ok not really… I am trying to get our family to go a little more “green” but more self-sufficient or prepared may be the better term. And one day, I’d like to be more there.  But this just sort of happened out of necessity. We have been taking care of my Father-in-law’s animals, while he drives back in forth to the city. Anyways…

These two little ones are rescues. 

Their mama wasn't a good mama. I suspect she felt crowded or the change in caretakers she didn't like. Not sure, but she decided that she’d kill all her babies. We were able to save three. 

One was doing well so I put it in with the baby ducks/ chickens (that were incubator hatched) and it is doing very well. The other two stayed at our house because they were not as luck in us finding them until their mom almost killed them. But now they are doing well. They are about 2 weeks old now. 

Meet Blackie

Blackie had no feathers on its head and I really thought it wasn't going to make it. But a little sugar water, a heat lamp and well no mother who is trying to get ride of him, and he is doing very well. (and to be honest I don't know how to tell if he is a he or a she so I guess until I get eggs or someone starts crowing they are its lol)

Meet Cheep Cheep

Blackie and Cheep Cheep are inseparable. If I take Cheep Cheep out of the cage first Blackie has a melt down and starts flapping and trying to fly everywhere cheeping like crazy. The boys have become quite attached now, so I guess they are staying.

This is where Blackie and Cheep Cheep are staying.

In a cat carrier in my front room. 

This picture caused a lot of panic. Blackie was scared by flash on camera and took off across the floor. Cat went running, other chicken took off... it was exciting. 

 Maybe the next addition will be a goat. You always need a goat…right? And I found this recipe for fresh goat milk soap.. OK.. maybe but not right now lol. Next task is to get the chick coop fixed up so I can get these chickens out of my house.   

The End.